Illinois Supreme Court Changes Access To Eviction Court Files To Help Expedite Assistance

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

The Illinois Supreme Court announced a new order which modifies the Court-Based Rental Assistance Program (CBRAP) in order to grant the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) access to information in sealed eviction court files. CBRAP is available in all Illinois counties outside Cook and the City of Chicago. Both Cook County and the City of Chicago received separate federal funding and have their own court-based rental assistance program as part of Cook’s Early Resolution Program.

Illinois Supreme Court Clerk Carolyn Taft Grosboll To Retire - Transformed Office to Digital Age

Posted on October 27, 2021 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

Illinois Supreme Court Clerk Carolyn Taft Grosboll, who led the transformation of the office from paper to digital and other important efforts since January 3, 2011, has announced her retirement effective November 30, 2021. Cynthia A. Grant has been appointed as the new Clerk of the Supreme Court effective December 1, 2021.

Celebrate Pro Bono Across Illinois: October 24-30, 2021

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

By Michael Bergmann, Executive Director of the Public Interest Law Initiative

Save the date for another Pro Bono Week celebration! Coordinated by the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, Pro Bono Week is intended to inspire even greater pro bono participation by lawyers throughout the nation. This initiative provides an opportunity for legal organizations across the country to collaboratively commemorate the vitally important contributions of America’s lawyers and to recruit and train the many additional volunteers required to meet the growing demand. 

Useful Sentencing

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

How might Illinois take more seriously its Constitution’s directive of returning offenders of all ages to useful citizenship. In their October Illinois Bar Journal article, “Useful Sentencing,” Andrea D. Lyon and Hannah J. Brooks show how Illinois courts have interpreted this part of the state’s constitution in lockstep with the U.S. Supreme Court’s interpretations of the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution’s prohibition against “cruel and unusual” punishment—and how Illinois has seriously reassessed its position on sentencing in light of the major decisions on that subject from both the U.S. Supreme Court and the Illinois Supreme Court.

Benjamin Jacobi Joins Polsinelli

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Celeste Antoinette Niemann

Am Law 100 firm Polsinelli welcomes Benjamin Jacobi as Counsel to the firm’s national Energy Law Practice Group. He is based out of the Chicago office.

Jacobi represents developers of renewable energy projects in zoning, permitting, regulatory, administrative, and litigation matters, counseling them on all issues related to complex energy project development, including state and local permitting, road use agreements, NWS agreements, and other related matters.

ISBA Resolution Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of the Justinian Society of Lawyers

Posted on October 22, 2021 by Timothy A. Slating

The ISBA Board of Governors on September 24 approved a resolution recognizing and celebrating the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Justinian Society of Lawyers.

The Justinians are in invaluable part of the Illinois legal community and a significant number of their members have served with distinction as the president of the Illinois State Bar Association.